Microsoft
Microsoft recently launched a bounty-hunting program for researchers to find bugs, security flaws, and vulnerabilities in the preview version of Internet Explorer 11. And, now, a handful of hunters have come to claim their prize.

A total of six researchers have found 15 vulnerabilities within the preview version of Internet Explorer 11. And, Microsoft has paid them more than $28,000 to date.

Microsoft announced its month-long bug bounty program for IE 11 in June. The company's goal is to stamp out security vulnerabilities in its software as early on as possible. Microsoft offered researchers up to $11,000 per critical exploit found.

IE 11 is an integral part of Windows 8.1 while at the same time it will most likely be a target for hackers and malware writers. For Microsoft, getting the security vulnerabilities squashed earlier rather than later is its primary motivation.

About the author

Dara Kerr is a staff reporter for CNET focused on the sharing economy and tech culture. She grew up in Colorado where she developed an affinity for collecting fool's gold and spirit animals.
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